Draft gear



`Nov. Z9, 1927.

H. E. VAN BORN DRAFT GEAR original Filed 001. 17, 1917I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Herr/m 01V? Nov. 29, 1927.

H. EQVAN lDC'JRN v DRAFT GEAR Original Filed 0012.17, 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nev. 29, `1927'.

MTE!) Stiff ERBERT En. van nenn, or `enna-iso, innrlvois.

Dianne enen Application led October 17', 1917, Serial No. 197;062.` Renewed Aprll, 1926.

This invention relates to, draftgears for car couplers and has foruts objectito provide a new and improved device ofithis de- 3 scription to be connected `to the car coupler and to absorb the shocks imparted to they cars together, andl car coupler in coupling in the operation rof the train. i j Y j The invention is illustrated -in the accoinpanying drawings, whereinf Figure 1 is a side view of a draft gear embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a. plan View of the device shown in Fig. l; Figure 3 is a sectional view takenon line 8-3 of Fig. 2; i m y Figure e is a sectional view taken on line 4-i ofFigB; i

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. y Like nunaerais refer to like parts throughout the several figures; f j

ln the construction shown, I provide a head 1, provided with apivot 2, upon jwhich a coupler head is adapted to be pivoted.

The head hase. yielding" support 3 lfor the coupler head, pivoted at 4 and engaging the spring 5 connected with the head. The shank 6 projects into a housing 7 which is connected with a supporting piece 8 having a projecting end 9 which slides upon a support 10 attachedk to the car. The housing 7 is provided with an inwardly projecting part 11 intermediate the ends thereof,` this projecting part dividing `the housing into two charnbers 12 and 18, in which are received the springs 14 and 15, the spring 14 surrounding the shank 6. A bar 16 engages the shank 6, being vpreferably connected thereto by means of the screw threads 17, the end of the bar project-ing into the shank which is hollow, as shown in Fig. 3. Surrounding the bar 16 is a hollow part 18 which is surrounded by the spring 15. This hollow part is provided with an enlarged end 19. The bar 16 is connected with this hollow part in any desired inanner.l As herein shown, the bar 16 is screw-threaded at the end and is which holds the part 18 on the bar. The shank 6 and the hollow part 18 are separated by means of a washerV 21, the washer being nominally opposite the inwardly projecting part 11. On opposite sides of the washer are the spring engaging parts 22 and 28, which are adapted to be engaged by the washer when it is moved, and which proywai-diy. This spring `treme stress is applied to provided with the nut 20,

ject beyond the n Wardly projecting part 11, as shown in Fig. at one end; a spring engaging ypart'2i engagessaid spring at the other end and is the shank 6 when the engaging part also eaigfrges` an. `lnwaufdly projecting part 26 on the housing; The Veniargeinent 19 on the part 18 is adaptedto engage a spring engagingpart 27 which engages the end of the spring 15. i alsoengagcs the end piece 28 or' the housing. Itwill thus be seen that the springs le and The `washer 22 engages. the spring 1li-r washer and engage the in" :1"

ladapted to be engaged by a shoulder` 25 on shank is inoved in- This spring engaging part 27 15 are both simultaneously compressed when the head is inovedi'in either direction.` The supporting piece 9 extends rearwardlyu and is conncctedwith the car by means of the pivot passing through 'the opening 8f (see 1'and2): thesupporting piece 8 just back of the housing havinga projectionq8 which overlaps a portion 88 `on the housing. This construction leaves a clear space for theniotor at the rear of the housing and below the supporting piece 8b. A portion of the motor is shown in dottedlines at 9a, Fig. 1. This motor inay be very close to the under side oi the car as the bars 8 and 8h take up very little room. It will therefore be seen that 1n coupling and in train operations any stress applied to the car coupler willbe imparted `to the springs in the housing 7 regardless of the position of the bar 8. The end 9 of the bar 8 may be prevented from nioving upwardly by ineans of the projecting part 9b extending rearwardly above it,

as shown in Fig. 8. There is no side swing between the housing 7 and the coupler head, and the pivoting inoveinent of the coupler head on the pin 2 doesnot produce any lost motion. The bar'8b fastened to the bar 8 and housing 7 strengthens the bar 8 and being bent when an eX- the housing. The distances between the coilsof the springs 1li and 15 are such that if these springs are compressed between the spring engaging parts in the housing 7 the washer 21 will not pass entirely beyond the projection 11 and the enlargement 19 will not pass entirely beyond the housing, andthe bearing surface of the shank will not pass beyond its opposed bearing face on the housing. This construction therefore makes it in1- prevents it from Apiece 8 isfastened to i (see Fig. 3), the Washer 21 and the enlarge- Y ment 19 engage the spring engaging parts 22 and 27 fand move them to the right to compress both springs. The movements of the other endsy of the springs are stopped by the spring `engaging parts 23 and 24. When the head is moved to the left', the shoulder 25 engages the spring kengaging part 24 so as to compress the springV 111, the other end of the spring being stopped by the spring engaging part 22 engaging the projection 11.

The spring engaging part- 23 is moved by the 'part' 21 so as to compress the spring 15, the

will further be seen other end` of the spring being held by spring engaging part 27 engaging the projection v28. It will be noted that the hollow shank 6: extends through the forward spring. It

' that both springs are broughtinto play when the head is moved in. eitherdirection. f

rI have described' in detail a lparticular construction embodying the invention, but it is of course evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars, and I therefore do not limit vmyself to the particular construction shown.

It will be noted that by means ot this construction'there is a wide vertical and lateral coupling and operating movement of the draft gear, and that during all of the various positions of the draft gear the shock is imparted to the springs and is absorbed thereby. The springs are independently compressed, that is, each receives a portion of the shock without transmitting it to the other, the springs therefor independently absorbing portions `of the shock.

I claim: 1. A draft gear comprising a housing, a spring in said housing, means for connecting said spring with a car coupler, a support separate from said housing and connected therewith and with the car, a strengthening piece connected with said support near the inner end of the housing and also connecting with said housing, said support projecting in both directions beyond said strengthening piece.

2. A. draft gear comprising a housing. a spring in said housing, means forv connecting said spring with a car coupler, a support separate fromk said housing connected with said housing and adapted to he connected with thecar, a strengthening piece connected with said support near the inner end of said housing and also connected with said housing, said strengthening piece strengtheningsaid support and acting as an ab nient for said housing.

In testimony whereof, I aix invsignature this 6th day of October, 1917.

HERBERT E. vVAN DORN. 

